Effects of Composite Supplement Containing Collagen Peptide and Ornithine on Skin Conditions and Plasma IGF-1 Levels-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Aging-associated changes of skin conditions are a major concern for maintaining quality of life. Therefore, the improvement of skin conditions by dietary supplementation is a topic of public interest. In this study, we hypothesized that a composite supplement containing fish derived-collagen peptide and ornithine (CPO) could improve skin conditions by increasing plasma growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Twenty-two healthy Japanese participants were enrolled in an 8-week double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study. They were assigned to either a CPO group, who were supplemented with a drink containing CPO, or an identical placebo group. We examined skin conditions including elasticity and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), as well as plasma growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. Skin elasticity and TEWL were significantly improved in the CPO group compared with the placebo group. Furthermore, only the CPO group showed increased plasma IGF-1 levels after 8 weeks of supplementation compared with the baseline. Our results might suggest the novel possibility for the use of CPO to improve skin conditions by increasing plasma IGF-1 levels.

Keywords: collagen peptide; growth hormone; insulin-like growth factor-1; ornithine; skin elasticity; transepidermal water loss.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of participants.

Figure 2

Dietary supplementation with collagen peptide and ornithine increased skin elasticity, and decreased the number of pores. Change in skin elasticity from baseline (A), and change in the number of pores from baseline (B). * p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01 by unpaired t-test. Error bars indicate SD.

Figure 3

Dietary supplementation with collagen peptide and ornithine increased plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Comparison of plasma IGF-1 levels before and after 8-week supplementation with collagen peptide and ornithine (CPO) (right) or with placebo (left). * p < 0.05 by paired t-test. Error bars indicate SD.